Register for Internship Credit
Students have the opportunity to obtain transcript notation (the organization name will be listed right on the transcript) or notation plus one academic credit hour for internships conducted throughout the year (Fall, Jan Plan, Spring, Summer) up to a maximum of three credits toward the 128 credits required for graduation.
You first need to find a Colby faculty member and ask them to be your sponsor. Your sponsor can be someone who is comfortable evaluating your internship experience, even outside of their discipline area. This decision is at the discretion of the faculty member.
REQUIREMENTS
The requirements are to complete 80 – 100 hours in the field (or remotely) plus maintain and submit some kind of reflective journal of your work there (the length, frequency, and content to be decided upon by your faculty sponsor). At the end of the internship, you would have your supervisor at the host organization email your faculty sponsor and let them know that you have successfully completed your hours.
If you would like one academic credit, you must do all of this plus submit some kind of final project such as a short paper or multimedia presentation (this is also to be determined with your faculty sponsor).
For those seeking academic internship credit for summer, an alternative to the reflective journal and final project (pending approval by your faculty sponsor) is participation in the DavisConnects Summer ’25 Internship Program. This program is required for those funded for internships by DavisConnects, the Oak Institute for Human Rights, and the Ralph J. Bunche Opportunity Grant. It is open to all students, though, seeking academic credit and who would like extra support throughout the entire process. Enroll at the bottom of this page to get started today. Once you are ready to apply for internship credit registration, see the “myColby & Faculty Sponsorship” section in the “Logistics To Do List” to learn more.
APPLICATION
You must fill out a registration application for your faculty sponsor to approve first and then DavisConnects to approve second (the approval request is sent automatically via email). Once it is approved by both parties, the Registrar’s Office will be notified.
At this point, all further work and deadlines are handled between you and the faculty member like any other coursework. They will review your journal and evaluate your project (if any) and then submit a ‘grade’ (CR=credit). If you do not complete all requirements, you may receive a grade of NC (No Credit) on your transcript.
Your internship will appear as an ‘090’ course on your schedule. If you were approved for academic credit, the one credit will show there.
DEADLINES
| Jan Plan ’25 | Spring’25 | Summer ’25 | Fall ’24 | |
| Application Opens The application becomes accessible online. | 9/15/24 | 1/9/25 | 2/16/25 | 8/2/24 |
| Application Closes Deadline to submit the online application. | FY: 11/19/24 So, Jr, Sr: 11/22/24 | 2/8/25 | 8/1/25* | 9/10/24 |
| Materials Due to Faculty Deadline to submit your journal, final project, and letter of evaluation to your faculty sponsor. | 2/1/25 | 5/6/25 | 9/2/25 | 12/16/24 |
| Grades Due to Registrar Deadline for faculty sponsors to award credit. | 2/12/25 | Sr: 5/21/25; FY, So, Jr: 5/28/25 | 9/9/25 | 1/3/25 |
INDEPENDENT STUDIES
Independent studies, on or off campus, are individual projects in an area where you have demonstrated the interest and competence necessary for independent work (in most cases, only upperclassmen and/or those who have taken the appropriate coursework within their discipline will be approved to undertake them). Projects are under the direct supervision of a member of the teaching faculty (up to 4 credits during the semester and up to 3 credits during Jan Plan).
Projects ordinarily involve the preparation of an extensive paper or other suitable indication of the student’s independent research or artistic efforts. Two options exist for electing January independent study: (a) for course credit that can be applied toward graduation requirements, to be graded as in the first item above; and (b) for January Program credit only, to be graded honors, pass, or fail. Students should meet with their faculty advisor to discuss this option.
Only pre-approved independent studies are eligible for funding. You will need to find a faculty member well before the funding deadline to help you develop and approve your project as well as agree to be your faculty supervisor for a registered independent study.
Some internships involve conducting research but should be registered as an internship for credit in myColby, as detailed at the top of this page, if the experience entails a broad set of responsibilities.